What an EHO Actually Checks For

What Triggers a Visit

EHOs carry out routine, scheduled inspections based on a business's risk rating, but they can also visit in response to a complaint, a reported illness, or simply as part of their normal rounds. There's no requirement to give advance notice, so an inspection can happen on any ordinary trading day.

What They Actually Look At

A typical inspection covers whether the premises and equipment are clean and in good condition, whether pest control measures are in place and evidence of any activity, how food is stored, cooked and dated, whether staff have had food hygiene training, and whether there's a documented food safety management system, commonly a HACCP-based plan, being followed day to day.

Pest control specifically is checked as its own item: an officer will look for signs of activity, droppings, gnaw marks, insect sightings, and ask to see evidence of a pest control contract or recent treatment history if anything raises a concern.

What Powers They Have

EHOs can take photographs, take food samples away for analysis, and review your records, including fridge and freezer temperature logs, cleaning schedules and staff training records. If they find a problem, they can require improvements within a set timeframe and return to re-inspect, or in serious cases issue a notice closing the premises immediately if there's a risk to public health. They can also give evidence in court if a business is prosecuted.

The Food Hygiene Rating

After an inspection, most businesses receive a Food Hygiene Rating from 0 to 5, published on the Food Standards Agency website and often displayed as a sticker in the window. Pest control failures are one of the more common reasons a rating drops, since evidence of activity is treated as a direct hygiene failure rather than a minor note.